CINCINNATI — Speaking with reporters on Thursday for the first time since becoming the Reds' control person, president and CEO Phil Castellini voiced support for the club's baseball operations leaders in trying to bring a postseason contender back to Cincinnati after a disappointing 2026 season.
“My coming here today is really 100 percent about showing that we are 100 percent behind these guys on taking this thing to the next level and solving the challenges that we have to do that and sticking with our strategy," Castellini said while seated next to baseball operations president Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador at Great American Ball Park.
Castellini, the son of owner Bob Castellini, took over in February as the team control person to represent the club at MLB owner’s meetings. However, he noted that the decision-making structure is collective.
“Ultimately, the responsibility for everything related to this franchise is a ‘we.’ It’s still me, Dad, Nick, Brad, everybody that works in this organization," Castellini said. "But in terms of that specific hierarchy and representation at the league level is the most significant part of that change.
“We need to let the baseball guys make the baseball decisions. It’s incumbent on me to create as many resources as possible for these guys to deploy against the strategy to improve this team. But the baseball things need to happen with the baseball guys and that’s the key focus.”
The Bob Castellini-led ownership group assumed control of the Reds before the 2006 season. At the time, he talked about bringing championship baseball back to the city.
In those 21 years, the club has reached the postseason five times – most recently a National League Wild Card berth in 2025 – but Cincinnati has not won a World Series since 1990 and hasn't advanced in a round of the playoffs since 1995. The Reds have also experienced more losing seasons than winning ones, which has led to fan frustration.
The 2026 Reds finished last in the NL Central with a 75-87 record despite an investment to improve the bullpen and the signing of free agent slugger Eugenio Suárez.
“First and foremost, I’d start with we hear the fans loud and clear. The outcomes of this particular season are not good enough," Castellini said. "They’re not good enough for our fans, our sponsors, our partners and owners. And these guys know they’re not good enough for the expectations they set on the baseball side of the organization. Which is why we need to take a deep dive at looking at every opportunity to improve the overall operations — the continuity, consistency and execution of a strategy.
"Part of that is looking at every decision that’s ever been made by the entire organization, where to invest, how to invest, who to invest in. Which of those things have worked, what hasn’t worked and how can you make different decisions going forward? I think these guys do a good job at evaluating that.”
Castellini pointed to the youthful core of Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and Chase Burns as signs things are moving in a positive direction, and believed in the vision of Krall and Meador to be competitive primarily through drafting, development and scouting homegrown talent.
“I think it’s continuing to stay disciplined to that strategy," Castellini said.
When asked if the ownership group had any intention of selling, Castellini replied that there were no plans.
“Because we haven’t accomplished what we set out to accomplish," he said, "there’s more work to be done. We respect and understand the importance of this franchise to this city. We respect our fans. They’re incredibly baseball high-IQ fans. I think they deserve better and I think this group of people has the capability to deliver what they deserve and we want to continue until we do.”
Among other topics discussed:
- Castellini mentioned that the team and Hamilton County have spent the past couple of years studying and evaluating options for maintaining and improving Great American Ball Park, where the lease runs through 2037. No specific findings were mentioned.
- There are no plans in place to change the cozy dimensions of the playing field.
“We took a really hard look at that. We looked at everything – moving the wall back, making the wall taller. I would say, in the end, it’s not going to change," Castellini said. “Because of the dynamics of the infrastructure, there just weren’t ways to easily do it. The infrastructure and the utilities that are behind – foul pole to foul pole – you just can’t move certain things.”
- The plan is to continue to have MLB produce and distribute Reds television broadcasts, which began for the first time this season. There are currently no planned changes in the broadcaster talent roster.
Castellini still believed his family were the right stewards to operate the historic Reds franchise.
“I think we have a commitment to this city," Castellini said. "I’m a fourth-generation Cincinnati guy. We are passionate about this community and improving this community and respect and understand the value of what the professional sports in this city bring to the city. And that delivery — or the failure to deliver — is not lost on us and we’re going to continue to work hard until we do. We’re here. We’re going to be here.”